Leigh engineer plans charity ride just months after getting the all clear

THERE are few ways to really show your gratitude to the charity that helped save your life but cycling 250 miles is a good way to start.

Six months after he was given the all clear following a two-year battle with bowel cancer Vinny Vesty is dusting off his bike and starting to train for a mammoth bike ride from London to Manchester in aid of The Christie.

He will be joined by his colleague at Greenhalghs Bakery Allan Jones as the pair go it alone on July 20 for the four-day ride.

“I’ve not really done any training yet. Allan cycles to work every day, even in winter but I’ve only just got my bike out. I’ll take it slowly though and build up to it,” said the 53-year-old.

“I have always wanted to do something like this but never seemed to have the time. But when I was diagnosed with bowel cancer, the staff at The Christie were brilliant – they saved my life.

“This is my way of saying thank you and giving something back.”

Vinny, of Rutland Street, Leigh, and Allan, who lives in Bolton, will be dropped in the middle of London and then left to make their own way back to Manchester.

“We are both really looking forward to it, we can’t wait. We don’t really know how much money we will raise but anything we get is a bonus to The Christie,” said Vinny, who is a maintenance engineer at the Lostock bakery.

“We have no support van or anything. We will just be dropped off in London and we have booked hotels to stay in so we will have to keep to a tight schedule to make sure we reach them.”

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